MMGY detects possible softness in leisure travel

For the first time in 12 years, travel marketing firm MMGY forecasts a decline in the number of vacations Americans will take.

MMGY’s survey asked travelers about their intentions to travel more, less, or the same in the year ahead compared to the previous 12 months. Twenty-one percent of travelers indicated an intention to take more vacations, while 30% said they plan to take fewer, resulting in a 9-point negative variance in vacation intentions.

This is the first time that variance has been negative in the 12 years the question has been asked, and it raises a concern about a softening of the leisure travel market in the months ahead.